The wait is over

A losing streak that lasted 25 days and nine games came to an end on June 14, when Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn's softball team defeated West Sioux, 5-4, at Hawarden.

The Hawks overcame a one-run deficit with consecutive run-scoring singles in the third inning by Frankie Mohni, Kamryn Ebel and Kinsey Schirmer. H-M-S padded its lead in the fourth, scoring on an error and an infield groundout by Mohni.

West Sioux chipped away at the four-run deficit, scoring a run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth. H-M-S escaped a jam in the seventh to seal the win.

"We lost a little of our lead in the end and made it harder than it needed to be, but it's still a win," said Hawk coach Stephanie Bronstad. "We had some good batting innings, but need to dominate on the bats the whole game."

Delaney Murphy, Addy Sheeler and Eliza Tewes also had hits in the game.

Winning pitcher Gracie Knobloch scattered four hits, walked five and struck out 10. Only one of West Sioux's runs was earned.

"Our pitching was good but just like defense and hitting, we can always improve, grow and minimize," Bronstad said.

• Stranded runners hamper Hawks

Too many stranded runners proved to be the difference in H-M-S's 5-3 loss to Gehlen Catholic. Twelve Hawks were left on base – most in scoring position – during the War Eagle Conference game on June 12 at LeMars.

The trend started in the first inning when H-M-S stranded two runners. Gehlen Catholic took advantage of its initial scoring opportunity to take a 2-0 lead.

Mohni drove in H-M-S's run in the second inning, but the Jays got that run back and held the lead until the sixth.

Tewes hit a two-run single in the sixth to tie the score, but Gehlen Catholic answered with two runs to take the lead for good.

"We left a lot on the bases. We need to keep working on improving the bats," Bronstad said.

Ebel, Murphy, Sheeler and Tewes each had two hits. Knobloch hit a double, and Schirmer and Mohni each hit a single.

Ebel was the losing pitcher. She allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out six.

• E-Hawks escape with 1-run win

Emmetsburg's sixth-inning run proved to be the difference in a 3-2 win over H-M-S on June 10 in Hartley.

Both teams scored twice in the third inning. Schirmer's single drove in the Hawks' first run and Abby Otto walked with the bases loaded to add another.

Natalie Daggett, Knobloch, Mohni, Schirmer, Sheeler and Tewes each hit one single.

Knobloch pitched the complete game. She allowed eight hits and struck out six.

"The girls played a good game defensively," Bronstad said. "We need to continue playing like this and continue to focus on one play at a time."

• St. Mary's blanks Hawks

Remsen St. Mary's (1A No. 5) broke out to a big lead and cruised to a 12-2 win over H-M-S on June 10.

St. Mary's scored four runs in the first inning and again in the second, and wrapped up the game with four runs in the fourth.

Sheeler's lead-off double in the third was the only hit for H-M-S.

Knobloch was the losing pitcher. She allowed 13 hits, walked one and struck out three.

H-M-S (2-9, 1-5) plays at MMCRU (Remsen) on June 21 and in the Central Lyon tournament on June 22. The Hawks will also host South O'Brien on June 24 and Trinity Christian on June 26.